Grocery-cabinet.



No. 870,196. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907. W. J. PERRITT. GROCERY CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W1 T/VESSES A froze/v3 1 5" PATENTED N0v.5.. 1907.-

W. J. PERRIIT. GROCERY CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16 1907- 2 SHEETSSHEE.T 2.

W1 TNESSES [NVE/VTOR,

A TTORNE VS WILLIAM J. P ERRllT, OF ROGERS, ARKANSAS.

GROCERY-CABINET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed July 16 1907. Serial No. 3841.059.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. Pnnurrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rogers, in the county of Benton and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Grocery-Cabinet, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in cabinets having bins or receptacles for containing teas and coft'ces, spices, sugar, and other grocers goods, and it has for its purpose to provide an improved structure of this character wherein the bins or receptacles are arranged concentrically on rotary carrier and provided with a common spout into which the goodsfrom the several bins may be discharged upon a. scalepan or into a bag, the carrier being rotatable to facilitate the placing of the bins or receptacle in discharging position.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient devices for turning the carrier and locking the different bins in discharging position, so that the goods cannot be spilled by premature discharging of the bin.

A further object is to provide a common cut-off for controlling the discharge of the several bins or receptacles.

To these and other ends, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:Figure 1 is a front elevation of a dispensing cabinet constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the carrier being broken away to illustrate more clearly the centering and operating devices thereof. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the carrier. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing one of the cut-offs for the bins or receptacles.

Corresponding parts in the several iigures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference.

The cabinet shown in the present embodiment of the invention embodies a base which may be of any suitable construction, that shown in the present instance comprising a circular platform 1 supported on legs or other suitable supports 2, the platform supporting a central vertical spindle 3. Above the platform is mounted a rotary carrier which embodies a frame comprising ripper and lower circular members 4 and 5 having apertures 6 and 7 to form hearings to receive the spindle, and vertical connecting members 8 which serve to secure the circular members in fixed relation.

Any suitable number of bins or receptacles are mounted on the carrier, the bins or receptacles, in the present instance, being arranged concentrically thereon and comprising cylindrical casings 9 resting in correspondingly formed openings 10 in the upper crcular member and "having their upper ends normally closed by removable lids 11. The lower end of each bin rests upon a circular support 12 having a peripheral flange 13 to cooperate with the lower edge of the casing and thereby center the receptacle. Within the casing is iormed a hopper 1 1 having a discharge tube 15 extending downwardly therefrom and entering a central aperture 16 formed in the support 12 and extended through the lower circular member 5. p

Each bin or receptacle is preferably provided with a cut oh by means of which the discharge of its contents -may be controlled or regulated, as desired, the cut-off shown in the present instance embodying a flat member or plate 17 pivoted to the member 5 at 18 and having one end extending through a transverse recess 19 formed in the under side of the support 12, the plate operating in a plane transverse to the discharge opening 16 and serving to open and close the latter. cut-off is normally held in closed position by means of a spring 20 attached at one end to the pivoted member and having its opposite end attached to a relatively fixed part of the carrier, the opposite end of the pivoted member extending somewhat beyond the periphery of the lower member 5.

The cut-offs oi the several receptacles may be operated in any suitable way, a single operating lever 21 be ing provided in the present embodiment of the inven tion, and this lever is arranged to cooperate with the pivoted member of any cut-off of the series, the lever being pivoted, in the present instance, to the base at 22 having an extension 23 arranged in the path of the projecting ends of the pivoted cut-off members, the lower end of the lever being provided ,with a crank 24 by means of which the lever may be turned, a movement of the crank toward the left in Fig. 1 serving to open the cut-off member with which it cooperates, the cut-off being closed by means of the spring 20. If so desired, a bow spring 25 may be arranged onthe base and in such a position as to engage one side of the cut-off operating lever, the friction being suflicient to retain the operating lever in any set position.

"he base is provided with a spout 26 which is arranged to register successively with the discharge openings of the several receptacles, the spout being arranged above a scale pan or in a convenient position to receive a sack or other receptacle into which it is desirable to discharge goods, and in order to insure alinement between the spout and the discharge openings of the several receptacles, as well as to retain the cut-off members in cooperative relation with the operating lever on the base, it is preferable to provide a combined centering and locking device which operates automatically to center the receptacles relatively to the spout to prevent rotation of the carrier, the centering and locking The v device shown in the present instance embodying a lever 27 pivoted at its inner end to a bracket 28 on the base and having an upwardly extending pin or projection 29 adapted to register and cooperate with the locking apertures 30 formed in the under side of the carrier, a spring 31 being interposed between the base and the locking lever and serving to normally move the latter into locked position. The outer end of the lever projects beyond the base and is provided with a suitable handle 32 by means of which it may be manipulated, the lever being retracted while the carrier is rotated and released when the desired receptacle approaches the spout, the pin or projection on the lever automatic ally engaging the respective locking aperture and thereby serving to arrest the movement of the carrier and to lock the latterin such a position that the discharge opening of the receptacle registers with. vthe spout.

When the invention is applied to cabinets of large size, it is preferable to interpose anti-friction devices between it and the base to insure a firm supporting of the carrier, and also to provide means for facilitating. the movement thereof, the anti-friction devices employed in the present instance embodying a set of rollers 33 supported on brackets 34 secured to the upper side of the platform or base and having their axes arranged radially of the axis of rotation of the carrier, the rollers cooperating with the under side of the lower circular member 5 of the carrier,

The operating devices for turning the carrier about its axis for the purpose of positioning the receptacles in discharging position embody a circular rack 35 secured to one of the parts, preferably to the under side of the carrier adjacent to its periphery, and a cooperating pinion 36 mounted on a shaft 37 which, in turn, is journaled on the base and provided with an operating crank 38 by means of which it may be rotated, and the operating shaft is provided with a ratchet wheel 39 which cooperates with a pawl 40, the ratchet wheel and pawl serving to prevent retrograde movement of the carrier.

In handling certain kinds of goods, there may be a tendency to clog the relatively small discharge tube of the receptacle, andin order to provide for such a contingency, it is preferable to provide an agitator, such a device being shown in the present instance as embodying an actuating rod 41 having a handle 42 at its outer end and having an upturned arm 43 arranged to engage the material in the tube and thereby prevent bridging or clogging of the discharge of the receptacle.

It is generally preferable to conceal and protect the cutoff members and the agitator rods at the rear of the cabinet, and for this purpose I have provided a segmental shield which is secured to the stationary base and has its upper edge turned inwardly toward the bottom of the carrier, the shield being bowed transversely to accommodate the projecting parts of the carrier.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cabinet of the character described, the combination with a base, and a movable carrier mounted thereon and provided with a plurality of receptacles, of a cut-0E for each receptacle, and an operating lever on the base arranged to codperate with the respective cut-offs.

2. In a cabinet of the character described, the combination with a base, and a movable carrier mounted thereon and provided with a plurality of receptacles, of a cut-off for each receptacle having a pivoted member having a portion projecting beyond the carrier, and an operating lever pivoted on the base having a part arranged to cooperate with the projecting portion of the cut-off members.

In a cabinet of the character described, the combination with a base, and a movable carrier mounted thereon and provided with a plurality of receptacles, of a cut-ottfor each receptacle, means normally operating to close the cutoff, and a cut-off operating device arranged on the base and adapted to cooperate with a cut-off when its respective receptacle is in discharging position.

4. In a cabinet of the character described, the combination with a base, and a movable carrier mounted thereon and provided with a plurality of receptacles, of a cutoff for each receptacle, an operating lever for actuating all the cut offs, and a friction device cooperating with the operating lever for retaining it in different adjusted posi tions.

5. In a cabinet of the character described, the combination with a base, and a carrier rotatably mounted thereon and provided with a plurality of bins, of cut-cits for the respective bins, an operating lever on the base arranged to cooperate with the respective cut-cits to operate them, and devices for locking the carrier. in fixed relation to the base when one of the bins is in discharging position.

(i. In a cabinetof the class described, the combination with a base, of a spring actuated locking le,ver carried thereby, a pin projecting upward from the lever, a revoluble carrier having recesses for the reception of the pin, a hopper. on the base, the carrier being provided with openings movable successively into vertical alinement with the hopper, a plurality of receptacles mounted on the carrier and having bottom discharge openings alining with those of the carrier, and independent cut offs for controlling the How of material through such discharge openings.

7, In a cabinet of the character described, the combination with a base, of a carrier rotatably mounted thereon embodying upper and lower circular members, the upper member being provided with a series of concentric open ings, and the lower member having a set of discharge openings, a set or receptacles mounted in the said apertures of the upper member, and circular supports arranged in the lower member and having peripheral flanges arranged to cooperate with the lower edges of the receptacles to center them relatively to the discharge openings.

in testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afhxed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. PERRITT.

Witnesses W. R. NELSON, W. H. MCMULLIN. 

